Acid Reflux Disease Diet

Acid Reflux Disease Diet Recommendations

Friday, January 8, 2010

Acid Reflux A Pain In Many Ways

You know how much pain and discomfort acid reflux can cause. To start with, there is the stomach discomfort you get when you consume a a food that gives you acid reflux, and then there is the discomfort in the esophagus as the reflux goes up the esophagus towards the mouth, where it can cause burning to the back of the throat too. Then there are the disturbed nights caused by the stomach fluids traveling the esophagus as you try to rest. It’s an unpleasant feeling that’s for sure, and there are so many more people affected by it these days too.

So how can you stop your acid reflux? Well the obvious thing is to stop eating the foods that cause you acid reflux, probably things like pizza which has both tomato sauce and lots of grease, which both can produce more stomach acid than you actually need. Now, not everyone needs to avoid all the same foods, some people have trouble with almonds, while others find almonds are beneficial for helping control their acid reflux. Garlic is another of those foods that helps some, but causes reflux in others.

Diet Tips To Help Your Acid Reflux Disease

The fact that acid reflux, affects not just adults, but also infants and children, makes it essential for everyone to be aware of its symptoms and how it can be prevented. Acid reflux can be controlled by changing your eating habits, not over eating and not eating certain foods.

Nevertheless, any person who is suffering from acid reflux needs a diet that would treat the illness, the foods that should be eaten and those which should not be. Below I outline some foods that probably should be eliminated from your diet all together, to get your acid reflux under control.

Acid Reflux & Heartburn : Things You Shouldn’t Eat With Acid Reflux

Foods that shouldn’t be eaten by people with acid reflux disease include tomato sauce, chewing gum, red wine and spicy foods. Discover how portion control may be a large factor in acid reflux withhelp from a gastroenterologist in this free video on acid reflux and food.

Recommended Diet For GERD Patients

Thursday, December 31, 2009

Image via Wikipedia

GERD or Acid Reflux symptoms are most of the time aggravated by the kind of diet that we implement. Try some of these recommended diets for GERD that could prevent your recurring symptoms from happening.

Apple Cider Vinegar for Acid Reflux

If you're suffering from acidity problems and are desperate for a remedy, then know the healing powers of apple cider vinegar. Acid reflux can be cured completely, with this natural treatment.

The curing abilities of apple cider vinegar has been deciphered during the time of Babylonia and Hippocrates. It is seen that raw apple cider vinegar is made up of forty different types of substances including vitamins, minerals, various enzymes and good bacteria. While buying, look for 'mother' of vinegar which is the milky and cloudy substance present at the bottom of the bottle, as it has the potential to cure many diseases. Excessive consumption of meat, sugar and grains can increase acidity in the internal system. Using treatment with apple cider vinegar, acid reflux can be cured to a great extent.

Acid Reflux Diets

Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), is not technically a disease at all. Acid reflux is a condition brought on by poor eating habits. Not only eating the wrong foods, not chewing food properly is also a root cause of acid reflux.

What you eat can overcome acid reflux. If you get acid reflux during the night then the cause could very well be eating too much at dinner. Eating a large meal may cause the stomach to produce too much acid. Try eating smaller, more frequent meals during the day. A smaller amount of food puts less workload on the stomach therefore requiring less acid secretion needed for digestion.

New Procedure For Acid Reflux/GERD

Boston Medical Center (BMC) surgeons are now offering patients an incisionless alternative to laparoscopic and traditional surgery for treatment of acid reflux or GERD.

Using the new procedure known as EsophyX TIF (Transoral Incisionless Fundaplication), surgeons can repair or reconstruct the valve between the esophagus and stomach, effectively stopping GERD. BMC is the only hospital in New England offering this new treatment

Stomach Acid Reflux Foods To Avoid And Eat

Monday, December 28, 2009

Image via Wikipedia

Stomach upsets caused by acid reflux are more often due to the foods that we eat. Here are some reference on what foods you should avoid and eat for your acid reflux disease.

Heartburn-Easing Foods That Fight GERD

Are you a smart snacker?

If you have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), how you eat is almost as important as what you eat. That means slow it down, no late-night snacks, and don't hit the hay right after meals. But choosing food wisely is also key.

You can curb your GERD by opting for a low-fat, high-fiber diet that's heavy on whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and lean meats. Listen to your body, and use this chart from the National Heartburn Alliance to select the best GERD-soothing foods.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Diet

A diet designed to prevent or reduce acid reflux is usually easy to follow. The basic food groups of cereals, vegetables, fruits, dairy products, and meats can be eaten with only a few limitations. So, this diet generally meets the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) of the National Research Council. A vitamin C supplement may be needed if an individual does not tolerate citrus foods such as orange, tomato, etc.

Knowing What Food to Eat And Avoid For Acid Reflux Disease

Of all the reasons for acid reflux problem, terrible eating habits contribute the most.

Hence, the first point to remember in the treatment of acid reflux is the knowledge of foods to eat and foods to avoid. Acid reflux may require you to make a new meal plot for yourself, giving more places to healthy and nutritious food and say goodbye to some other.

GERD Drugs May Cause Unexpected Side Effects

Thursday, November 5, 2009

People who are taking drugs called proton pump inhibitors to treat GERD (gastroesophageal reflux) and laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) should be aware of possible unexpected side effects and complications, according to a new report published in Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery. These additional adverse effects are in addition to the ones normally associated with use of proton pump inhibitors, which include headache, diarrhea, abdominal pain, dry mouth, constipation, nausea, rash, and flatulence.

Experts do not know exactly how many people have GERD or LPR, as some people do not seek treatment from a physician for their symptoms. It is estimated that 20 percent of people experience heartburn or acid regurgitation on a weekly basis and that 40 percent of people experience these symptoms at least once a month. The American Gastroenterological Association suggests that one-third of the US population has GERD.

Proton pump inhibitors, which work by preventing the release of stomach acid, are a popular treatment for GERD and LPR, and they are generally regarded to be safe. Recent research has indicated that stomach acid is not the only factor that causes tissue damage in reflux disease, however, and this fact, along with indications that proton pump inhibitors are associated with unexpected complications, prompted the authors of the new research to raise a red flag about use of these medications.

Some of the unexpected side effects and complications the authors noted related to the use of proton pump inhibitors for GERD include an increased rate of hip fractures (which may be related to problems with calcium absorption), the possibility of altered absorption of iron and vitamin B12 (related to changes in gastric pH levels), an increased risk of developing diarrhea caused by clostridium difficile related to medical treatment, and an increased risk of contracting community-acquired pneumonia. In an unrelated recent study, use of proton pump inhibitors was found to cause weight gain.

Given their findings, the authors of the study suggest that physicians reevaluate their patients who are taking proton pump inhibitors for GERD or LPR to determine whether they need to continue taking these drugs and to weigh the risks of treatment versus not treating the disease. Current proton pump inhibitors on the market include dexlansoprazole (Kapidex), esomeprazole (Nexium), lansoprazole (Prevacid), omeprazole (Prilosec), pantoprazole (Protonix), and rabeprazole (Aciphex).

Physicians are also encouraged to consider alternative treatment approaches for GERD, including changes in diet and lifestyle. Some modifications that can be helpful include avoiding certain foods (e.g., fatty and/or fried foods, spicy foods, soft drinks, tomatoes, chewing gum, coffee, alcohol), stopping smoking, eating smaller meals, and practicing relaxation techniques.

Source

7 Most Common Gastrointestinal Problems

Friday, October 16, 2009

There's something about digestive difficulties that makes them hard to discuss in polite company -- which leaves many of us suffering one problem or another in silence. Yet fixes can be as simple as making informed lifestyle changes or taking over-the-counter remedies. Peppermint oil and soluble fiber, for example, can help people with irritable bowel syndrome; a study the British Medical Journal published in November concludes that both should be first-line therapies for IBS. Here's a rundown of the latest medical wisdom on some other common gastrointestinal problems.

REFLUX

Symptoms of reflux, such as heartburn, are among the most common digestive ills. In a recent Swedish study, 6 percent of people reported experiencing reflux symptoms daily and 14 percent had them at least weekly. Such frequent symptoms may indicate a person has GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease. Aside from being painful, GERD can harm the esophagus over time or even lead to esophageal cancer.

Heartburn typically involves a "hot or burning feeling rising up from the center of the abdomen area and into the chest under the breastbone or sternum," says Dr. Michael Gold, director of gastroenterology at Washington Hospital Center, Washington, D.C. "It may be accompanied by a sour taste in the mouth, or hypersalivation, or even finding food or fluid in your mouth," particularly at night.

Pregnancy, some medications, and consuming alcohol or certain foods can cause heartburn. Kids under age 12 and some adults may have GERD without heartburn, instead experiencing asthmalike symptoms, trouble swallowing, or a dry cough.

Treatment options include drugs that reduce acid levels, such as the proton pump inhibitors Aciphex, Nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec, and Protonix and the H2 blockers Axid, Pepcid, Tagamet, and Zantac. But taking medication is not without risk. A November, 2008 study found that a proton pump inhibitor may weaken the heart-protective effect of the blood thinner Plavix in patients taking both medications.

In severe cases of GERD, surgeons can tighten a loose muscle between the stomach and esophagus to inhibit the upward flow of acid. Recently, laparoscopic surgery, which involves small incisions, was found to lessen scarring and shorten recovery time compared with open procedures.

PEPTIC ULCERS

If you have unexplained stomach pain, consider this before reaching for a painkiller: "The worst thing to do if ulcers are suspected is to take aspirin or other NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) pain reducers," Gold says. "They worsen it and don't help."

Instead, if you think you have a peptic ulcer, consider getting tested for Helicobacter pylori, experts advise. By disrupting a protective layer of mucus, that bacterium causes ulcers, which are sores in the lining of the stomach or first stretch of the small intestine.

Other causes include smoking, which can elevate stomach acidity, and excessive NSAID use. Alcohol use may also be a factor, but it's unclear whether that alone can cause ulcers. (The old theory blaming factors like stress isn't totally wrong: Stress can aggravate symptoms of peptic ulcers and delay healing.)

Left untreated, ulcers can cause internal bleeding and may eat a hole in the small intestine or stomach wall, which can lead to serious infection. Ulcer scar tissue can also block the digestive tract. And long-term H. pylori infection has been linked to an increased risk of gastric cancer.

Ten to 14 days of antibiotic treatment, often combined with acid reduction therapy, can rid someone of H. pylori. Surgery is an option for more severe cases. A study published in the World Journal of Surgery concluded that laparoscopic repair should be considered for all patients with so-called perforated ulcers.

Read the full article from The Baltimore Sun

Acid Reflux Disease Diet